President and general manager Jim Ochowicz welcomed the new riders to the squad.

“They are both young talents that are fast, strong and ready to lend their skills to the BMC Racing Team,” said Ochowicz. “We will especially be looking to them to support our team leaders during the classics season and throughout the rest of the season.”

Wyss was one of the first European pros to sign with BMC, in 2008, and will enter his third contract term with the team.

“Danilo has spent the last several years improving his skills as a teammate for the classics riders on the team and he will maintain this role again next season,” said Ochowicz.

Blythe, 21, has seen some success in the classics, earning a few podiums in the lesser one-day races and third in the opening stage of the Ronde van Drenthe this season.

“The BMC Racing Team wants to make me a better bike rider, which is what I really need at the moment,” said Blythe said. “I would like to go for some stages in races like the Eneco Tour next year, but my main goal is to get onto the classics team. I think it will very hard, though.”

Hard is right. Blythe and Lodewyck join a packed classics roster at BMC. The team has added world number one Philippe Gilbert, a current teammate of both riders, and Thor Hushovd this fall. The squad’s classics core includes returning riders George Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt, Manuel Quinziato and Greg Van Avermaet.

Lodewyck, 23, won two national-level road races in Belgium this season and finished his first Giro d’Italia in May.

“If I want to make the next step in my career, it’s important to go to a team that can bring me to a higher level,” said Lodewyck. “I want to try and perform well the whole year and maybe try to win a nice race. It’s also important for me to help the other big riders on the team. That will be a big challenge for me.”

Brian Holcombe

Brian Holcombe is the editor of VeloNews.com. Holcombe joined VeloNews in 2009 following years spent introducing students to whitewater kayaking and working in avalanche control, among other more risky ventures. A Master of PR and Marketing Communications, his graduate work at the University of Denver focused on innovation, digital media management and custom publishing. Holcombe is a CSU Ram fan and proud parent, and has been accused of attacking too much on the VN lunch ride. Follow him on Twitter @FCBrian.